IT'S LAS VEGAS, BABY - LIVE IT!
Experience the lights and excitement! In the evenings before and after the Expo (or for the spouse and kids while you attend), there is a wealth of extravagant hotels, entertainment spots, shopping, and casinos to visit, and many have spectacular shows to see. http://www.visitlasvegas.com/vegas/index.jsp (even the Motel 6 there has a flashy sign!).
From the Missus, a Tip on how to get around - If you want to go from casino to casino, the best and least expensive method is The Deuce Bus Route which is a double-decker bus that travels from Fremont Street (where the Plaza Hotel is) all the way over to Mandalay Bay. Only two dollars per trip or five dollars for a 24-hour pass - a great value either way!
For more fun ideas check out the "Ultimate Unabridged Las Vegas Area Attractions Directory".
Here are some ideas we thought of:
PINBALL HALL OF FAME
Just a few miles from the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas, the Pinball Hall of Fame is at
1610 E. Tropicana, east of the airport.
In the evenings after CommVex or the night before, get your retro arcade fix at the Pinball Hall of Fame, a working pinball museum by the members of the Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club to house and display the world's largest pinball collection open to the public. You can play pinball on hundreds of classic pinball machines from the 1950s to the 1990s (just 25 to 50 cents per game, proceeds benefit local charities) including some the the classic videogames you remember! There are also some rare prototype pinballs, a couple handfuls of classic video games, and some vintage arcade mechanicals.
If you are interested in pinball or arcade games, it's well worth the visit.
Hours: 11 am till 11 pm, Sunday to Thursday & 11 am till midnight, Friday and Saturday
NATIONAL ATOMIC TESTING MUSEUM
Learn about atomic testing without getting burned! Experience science and history by the megaton! Learn how America's Cold War Warriors unlocked the secrets of the atom in the Las Vegas desert! Visit the National Atomic Testing Museum (in association with the Smithsonian Institution).
You'll be able to interact with dozens of exhibits, and witness history at five different movie venues. Experience an atomic explosion in the Ground Zero Theater. Follow the Nevada Test Site's progression from the first tests to present day. Stand at a replica of the Control Point where each nuclear countdown took place. Take in the optional Area 51 exhibit where you can decide if it is myth or reality.
Hours: M-Sat 10 am - 5 pm. Su - 12 pm - 5 pm. Admission Price: General Admission and Area 51 - $23, General Admission - $17, Group Tour (10 or more) - $13 per person, Family Pak (2 Adults with up to 3 Youth 7-17) - $50. Discounts for Seniors, Youth, Student, Military, and Nevada Residents; Museum Members and Children (6 & under) - Free.
National Atomic Testing Museum, 755 E. Flamingo Rd.. Las Vegas, NV 89119-7363, Admissions - 702-794-5124, Museum Store - 702-794-5150
21 COOL AND UNUSUAL THINGS TO DO IN LAS VEGAS
Looking for some truly unique things to do while visiting Las Vegas?! Atlas Obscura has a list of some of the coolest and more unusual places to visit in the area.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/las-vegas-nevada/places
Also the Same Week of CommVEx 18
Def Con 26
Def Con 26, the hacking conference which attracts thousands of attendees, is happening on August 9-12 at Caesar's Palace on the Las Vegas Strip.
Black Hat USA 2018
Happening Aug. 4-9 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, Black Hat USA 2018 is “world's leading information security event, providing attendees with the very latest in research, development and trends”.
SHOW LINKS
Check out the Las Vegas performers/shows for